The Widener University Child Development Center has maintained the highest ranking
in Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program with a STAR 4 designation. The Widener Child
Development Center provides preschool through kindergarten for children ages 2 years,
9 months through 6.

“By maintaining our STAR 4 quality rating, we give parents additional assurance that
their children are in a developmentally appropriate and supportive environment,” said
Dr. Noreen Yoder, director. “It also acknowledges the efforts of our teachers who
strive to give even our youngest students a well-rounded education. Our approach to
learning is to nurture a child’s intellectual, emotional, social and physical development,
as well as their individual creative skills.”

To achieve a STAR 4 rating, the Widener Child Development Center had to meet greater
research-based standards for program quality. For example, at least half of the lead
teachers in a STAR 4 center needed to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood
education. At the Widener Child Development Center, the lead teachers not only hold
bachelor’s degrees, but three of the teachers have master’s degrees, and one teacher
is working toward the completion of a doctoral degree. Three of the teacher assistants
also have bachelor’s degrees and are working toward master’s degrees.

“Our students not only benefit from our highly qualified teachers and teacher assistants,
but they also have opportunities to interact with our teacher candidates at Widener,
students in other majors such as physical therapy and social work and our faculty
members,” said Yoder. “Our school benefits from its affiliation with the university
because students and faculty come here to model best practices in their respective
disciplines. You may see physical therapy students leading stretching exercises or
teacher candidates working on reading skills on any given day.”

To learn more about the Widener Child Development Center, or to enroll a child, visit
www.widenercdc.com or call 610-499-1097.

Keystone STARS is a quality rating and improvement system that offers families a way
to evaluate the quality of a child care program. STAR levels increase from a STAR
1 up through a STAR 4. Keystone STARS quality standards build upon health and safety
requirements regulated by the Department of Public Welfare.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to
social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal
attention, leadership development and experiential learning are key components of
the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener comprises
eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and
pre-professional curricula leading to associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral
degrees. The university’s campuses are in Chester and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington,
Del. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.